Only now that I have had my 3rd, I feel like I know exactly what I prefer. These products may not work for everyone, and at the end of the day remember YOU have to do what’s best for YOU and YOUR BABY!
I have found these products have helped me recover and make me feel better Post Partum!
Thought I’d share with y’all!
No. 1 - Lactation Smoothie Recipe
I can’t yet physically breastfeed baby Stella, and because I lost so much blood during the pregnancy, this time around I had a challenge with my milk supply. So, I decided to try it all!
This smoothie tastes good, you can find this recipe anywhere, and I thought I would share it here.
1 cup of Rolled Oats
2 tbs Brewers Yeast or Nutritional Yeast
1 Banana
Handful of spinach
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tbs peanut butter or almond butter
1 cup of coconut milk (you can use whatever milk you like)
You can add the marine collagen (see below) and any protein powder to this shake as well!
No. 2 - Vitamins
I am loving my Mega Food. The ones I am currently taking are the Baby and Me, Megaflora, and Blood builder.
The reason I chose this brand is because it’s well known for its absorption properties. I have been advised that different vitamin brands absorb better and are purer than others
Top 3 reasons:
1. Check to see that they have been reviewed by Health Canada and deemed safe.
2. Check for good labelling practices where they list active and non-active ingredients.
3. Look at the types of ingredients that are being used. Avoid artificial colours, sweeteners, flavours, wheat, lactose, stearic acid and hydrogenated oils.
These are only a few reasons why I chose this brand and some rules that I follow, but always check with your Doctor and do your own research.
No. 3 - Vida Glow Collagen Powder
Collagen is the most abundant protein and the second largest substance (behind water) in the human body. Replenishing collagen levels will help benefit the building blocks that maintain our hair, skin and nails. Because I lost a lot of blood during this last pregnancy, I want to make sure I am rebuilding my skin from the inside out!
Collagen works from within to promote optimal collagen function within the body. Vida Glow's marine collagen is a low molecular weight collagen peptide powder, which is highly bioavailable, with a high absorption rate above 90%. Whereas pills and tablets average from 20 - 30% and can take up to 40 minutes for the body to break down.
Once Vida Glow's marine collagen is ingested, it passes through the lining of the stomach and is absorbed by the bloodstream and distributed by blood vessels, to the dermis, the deeper layer of the skin. Here it stimulates fibroblasts, the cells responsible for collagen proliferation, thereby increasing the body's collagen levels and its natural production of collagen.
You can pop it in your water, oatmeal or coffee and enjoy!
No. 4 - H2O
“8 waters please” and then some!
That is me every day. I am super thirsty while I pump. Who else can relate?? Keeping up with your water is key to lactation production and over all health. I keep a few water bottles lying around - one in the car and a few around the house to remind me!
No. 5 - Mother’s Milk Tea
I AM Obsessed with this tea to help produce breast milk!
The main milk-boosting ingredient in this tea is Fenugreek seed, along with fennel, anise, coriander and blessed thistle—herbs that have traditionally been used as galactagogues (aka milk-making aids).
One of its benefits is that it helps produce breast milk. Some of the other benefits are:
Reduces menstrual discomfort
Relives constipation
Good for kidney trouble
Lowers cholesterol
Just steep for 5 minutes and enjoy 3-5 cups per day!
BONUS No. 6 - MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness may be different to each one of us. For me it’s important that my mind is in line with my heart which is then followed by my actions. I must admit, when I am overwhelmed and stressed out it takes more for me to settle my mind. However, I have to practice each day to stay on track.
One thing I believe in is waking up with a grateful heart. I wake up and thank God every day for my blessings and I ask him to guide my day as needed.
I then pull my Angel cards or an affirmation card and ask my Angels to watch over us.
There are times I sit in silence and pray the Rosary. This is the most soothing one for me. The beautiful rosary in the above photo was hand made by Anita Alberto, I am in love with it!
The healing stones are from my good friend Claudia Chirico of Bloom Energy Therapy, they set intentions for the day. This special stone is Selenite, it clears old energy and allows us to connect on a deeper level by clearing any negativity and opening ourselves up to receive.
At the end of my day I thank God for putting all the right people on my path that day and I express gratitude for them. As a family, we all take turns saying what we are grateful for each day.
It’s so cute - Vincenzo doesn't really get it - but he always says he's grateful for Gianluca or Papa. Yes! I even get my 3 year old in on it too!
What are you grateful for today? Comment below♥️